MOHAWK ONONDEYOH (FREDERICK O. LOFT) BORN–FOUNDED LEAGUE OF INDIANS OF CANADA
Born on the Six Nations (6N) Reserve, Loft’s name meant “Beautiful Mountain.” A lumberjack, timber inspector, and reporter before graduating from Ontario Business College, Fred became a civil service (CS) accountant in 1890. He also wrote on Indian education for the Globe (1908) & Saturday Night (1909) advocating an end to residential schools in favor of day schools on reserves. During World War I, Loft recruited on reserves and, in 1917, seeking overseas duty, Lieutenant Loft claimed to be 45, vice 56. While overseas, the 6N Council conferred on him the Grand River Iroquois Confederacy Pine Tree Chieftainship. As 6N Council’s representative, he met with King George V in 1918. On December 20, 1918, Loft helped found the League of Indians of Canada (LIC)—Canada’s 1st pan-Indian entity–in response Indian Act amendments threatening reserve lands. As LIC’s 1st president, Loft kept LIC afloat through his personal finances until retiring from CS in 1926. On July 5, 1934, Loft died in Toronto.
Sources:
Donald B. Smith, “LOFT, FREDERICK OGILVIE, Dictionary of Canadian Biography, Vol. XVI (1931-1940). Retrieved 9/13/2022, Biography – LOFT, FREDERICK OGILVIE – Volume XVI (1931-1940) – Dictionary of Canadian Biography (biographi.ca)
“1919-Frederick Loft and the League of Indians,” Canadianhistory.ca. Retrieved 7/23/2019, https://canadianhistory.ca/natives/timeline/1910s/1919-frederick-loft-and-the-league-of-indians
Photo: Author unknown. Date: Between 1914-1918. National Archives of Canada. Likely Public Domain. If not, then Fair Use.
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